Teach Soap

Okay, so I just finished a good-sized (for me) batch of lotion. It's way too late for me to be doing math, but I filled a dozen bottles that are 7.1 ounces, plus a couple of ounces to send off to Sagescript, plus a couple of little bottles for testers at my show.

I started this project at 8:45 p.m., and finished up about 3:15 a.m. I know it took me

much longer time to make a batch of soap when I first started with that. So I'm really hoping this is, I dunno, "beginner-itis", or something. Or does it really take that long?

This is wearing me out, and I still have two more batches I want to make for the show. I'm trying very hard to get them done so I can send them off to SageScript.

But I feel pretty beat up at the moment. Please tell me this is just temporary!

Anita the Pooped

I don't make lotion so I can't swear it will get better. On the bright side, it has gotten faster for me to label, make and bottle my whipped body butter. Lotion should work that way for you once you have everything down and some practice too. Hang in there! I always remind myself how quiet January is whenever I get tired.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Yes, it gets better and you get faster. That being said, it takes longer to make lotion than it does soap. You have the whole heat and hold thing and you have the funnel into the bottle thing, so it does take time. But once you get some experience under your belt, you will get on a roll and have a rhythm, and I seriously doubt that it will take as long as this time did!........... Unless of course you are just old and slow like me!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Well, after my little waah-fest last night, and after I went to bed, evidently the Lotion Fairy felt sorry for me. She must have whispered some secret Lotion Fairy knowledge to me while I slept. (I don't really know what she said as I was asleep. )

Anyway, I started a batch about 8:15 tonight. I've already combined my water and oils/butters, and the temp has dropped to about 121 F. A few more rounds with my trusty (though really warm!) stick blender, and it should be time to add my cool-down stuff. Woo hoo!

So thanks for the encouragement and letting me whine last night.

Oh, and thanks, Lotion Fairy!



Anita


Update: Well it seems I celebrated prematurely. As I was bottling, things slowed down considerably as the lotion got thicker. Oh, well. You guys promised it would get better, and I'm holding you to that!

P. S. I do have the old and slow part as well - or at least middle-aged and slow!

Anita, if you put your lotion into a ziplock bag and cut a bit of the corner off, you can use it like a pastry bag to squeeze the lotion into the bottles.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!